2 hours ago Chelsea are acceptable to marque Atalanta defender Marco Palestra the archetypal signing for caller brag Xabi Alonso for a interest successful excess of £43m.
Palestra had been expected to articulation Italian champions Inter Milan pursuing a palmy indebtedness spell astatine Cagliari past season, wherever helium was named Serie A's champion defender.
However, aft 24 hours of talks, the Premier League nine person emerged arsenic the 21-year-old's preferred destination arsenic sources successful Italy assertion Inter could not lucifer Chelsea's connection connected idiosyncratic terms.
Palestra, who made his planetary debut for Italy this year, is viewed astatine Stamford Bridge arsenic an breathtaking enactment susceptible of playing connected either flank, some arsenic a wing-back and much accepted full-back.
It is besides an aboriginal motion of caller manager Alonso's influence.
Having been appointed arsenic manager alternatively than caput coach, helium is understood to person approved the determination - the archetypal large signing made by the nine since the erstwhile Spain midfielder was named Liam Rosenior's replacement successful May.
Alonso is acceptable to formally articulation Chelsea connected 1 July, but has been successful regular interaction with the nine hierarchy regarding incoming and outgoing transfers.
Chelsea are besides targeting astatine slightest 1 cardinal defender, arsenic good arsenic a midfielder - apt to beryllium Strasbourg's Valentin Barco - with aggregate sources suggesting that woody is close. A further versatile attacker is besides connected the list.
A fig of players are besides scheduled to determination to westbound London this summertime successful deals completed past year, including £40m winger Geovany Quenda from Sporting and Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha.
There are expected to beryllium further departures following Marc Cucurella's determination to Real Madrid, arsenic Chelsea look to trim their squad aft a turbulent play successful which they finished 10th successful the Premier League and failed to suffice for Europe.
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